Page 62 - The Ethics of ASEAN

The Ethics of ASEAN

the importance of civil society organisations in advocating for ASEAN-wide ethics beyond
the paradoxical ethics of national policies.
Dr Eko Suwardi underlined the ethical challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic where
many businesses were closed down and millions without work struggled financially as
an opportunity for businesses to make ethical choices regarding their employees and
stakeholders across ASEAN.
Dr Antonette Palma-Angeles described the “wicked issues” that arise when dealing
with a short-term crisis has long-term consequences that change ethical priorities. She
also made an eloquent statement about the role of educating students in ethics in today’s
world where critical thinking is needed to counter the rise of “group think” and social
media.
Dr Paul Lim makes the point that ASEAN senior decision-makers are too wedded to
the value of tradition and maintaining social stability with certain ethical norms, making
them resistant to the emerging ethics of ASEAN youth. He advocates for leaders to shed
their preconceptions and fears and allow youth to show the way forward in ASEAN.
Finally, Senjaya Mulia describes how the ASEAN Youth Organisation is building
ethical dialogue and taking practical ethical action with its 35,000 volunteers and 450,000
members. He believes that youth activism is a practical ethic in a diverse society.

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